PITTSBURGH — Fly in one night, get your sweater in the morning, answer questions about your uncertain future by breakfast: That's how it goes for NHL players on professional tryouts — and Chuck Kobasew is no different.

Kobasew, a 31-year-old winger, has three 20-goal seasons on his resumé, but his future with the Pittsburgh Penguins depends on other attributes — penalty killing, speed and energy. And he knows it. After a nine-point season with the Colorado Avalanche, Kobasew had other options but agreed on his deal with the Penguins on Tuesday. He was on a plane that night.

His locker was set up in the dressing room at Consol Energy Center. Nobody noticed.

"For me, it's just an opportunity," Kobasew told Sporting News. "I have no idea where exactly their openings may be, but I just want to come in here, put a good foot forward and see what happens."

He also knows that Pittsburgh needs bottom-six forwards. Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy are gone, and only center Brandon Sutter is a lock to start on the third line.

Coach Dan Bylsma said players who weren't on last season's roster will be in the mix for what are currently two open spots. That's not including locks Jussi Jokinen and Beau Bennett, one of whom will play on a line with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal, or holdovers Craig Adams, Tanner Glass, Joe Vitale and Dustin Jeffrey.

Kobasew falls outside that group — and he doesn't have a contract, like Matt D'Agostini. He doesn't even have a two-way deal, like Chris Conner or Andrew Ebbett or Harry Zolnierczyk.

Beyond Pittsburgh, the PTO crop is deep enough — Johan Hedberg crossed the Hudson and showed up at New York Rangers camp. Dan Cleary is with the Philadelphia Flyers, pretending that he doesn't have a wink-and-nod deal. Tim Thomas will be on one, at some point. Maybe Ilya Bryzgalov, Brad Boyes, Mason Raymond, Ian White and Ryan Whitney.

Those players have varying but very real NHL track records, and they're all looking for the same thing.

"It's an opportunity for him to come into that area. We've talked about the competition in the bottom six, in that spot on our team, and he comes in with that in mind," Bylsma said, "He'll have an opportunity there in the next few days and going into the exhibition games to be in that mix of guys."

And the games are more important, Kobasew said: "It's easy to show your work ethic and all that, but it's hard when you're scrimmaging against what could be teammates. You're better of in exhibitions when you get the opportunity to go out and play."

With the Avs, Kobasew was fourth among forwards in shorthanded time per game (1:46). Same deal in 2011-12. That said, he didn't drive possession at even strength, despite getting offensive opportunities against weak competition, so his grinder metamorphosis isn't complete.

Maybe it never will be. But he's getting a good shot with a good team, and that's all he could expect.